The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband

Debbie Isitt's (not mentioned in programme) ’The Woman Who Cooked Her Husband’ is the story of a boring, culinary goddess Hilary who was left by her husband Kenneth 19 years ago. Kenneth is now with the younger, slimmer and prettier Laura, who cannot cook to save her life.

The play begins with Hilary preparing a dinner party with Kenneth and his new wife Laura after announcing to the audience her ominous decision to cook her husband on the day he left her. As the dinner party proceeds, fraught with tension and alcohol, the relationship between the three characters is shown through a series of flashbacks. It's revealed that Kenneth is a first-rate bastard, a man who cannot get enough of Hilary's food but ends up lured into the sexy Laura's bed to satisfy his urges. Even after marrying Laura, he "cheats" on her by secretly making visits to Hilary's to get his daily grub.

Three strong performances by the cast, and their camaraderie is infectious, giving their performances so much energy. Francesca Monk as Laura and Larry Dobin as Kenneth both gave superb performances but it is the brilliantly spunky Mandy Hunt who is the show's beating heart. It will take me a long time to forget her furious chopping of celery, sassy, indulgent soliloquies and hilarious bellowing of the word "bastard" at the start of the play. With the high comedy, the production also takes on a shade of pantomime when Kenneth gets booed as he mocks his ex-wife and Hilary cheekily breaks the fourth wall to interact with the audience.

This is exceptional casting and direction by Samuel Wall. It was tight, funny and the set design by Sam Wall was so imaginative as was the lighting by Lucie Nash. I did wonder how Whitsable audiences would react to the very naughty silhouetted scenes, I need not of worried they enjoyed them, going by the oooow  eeerrrs coming from them.

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